The Bonding (18 page)

It was sunset when Kiri returned home. Jaya and Soren were walking with her. At her friend's insistence, she had donned a pair of black trousers that were quite fitted at the waist and bottom, but then flowed widely around her legs, almost like a skirt. Jaya had tried to talk her into a dress, but Kiri had refused. She didn't feel safe enough to want to restrict her movement in this way. A few practice kicks had convinced her these trousers would be fine. They did cup her bottom rather indecently, but she was sure Davin would appreciate that. The shirt was a sleeveless wrap, similar to the one she normally wore, but gleaming white instead of tawny. Below the arm holes, it trailed into two long tails that could be adjusted to fit the individual. Jaya had encouraged Kiri to wrap it much lower on her chest than she would have considered on her own, creating a hint of cleavage (helped a borrowed push-up undergarment) that cradled the dangling diamond on Davin's betrothal collar. Jaya had also changed Kiri's normal braid for one that started above her left ear and angled down across the back of her head, to end in a long tail over the opposite shoulder. It was traditional for unmarried women to wear flowers in their hair. Kiri had argued that they were almost married, but Jaya had assured her almost didn't count, and had woven sprays of tiny white blossoms into the braid. At Kiri's insistence, there was also a molded metal striker a little bigger than a man's thumb; not as lethal as the spikes, but useful in a fight. Jaya hadn't liked that one bit, but Kiri refused to be dissuaded. She would not go out unprepared for trouble. That way led to disaster.

She opened the door to her apartment. Davin lay sprawled on the sofa reading a novel. He looked up at the sound of her arrival, and his mouth dropped open.

“Kiri?”

“What is it?”

“Oh, baby, you look amazing. Come here.” He sat up and at her approached grasped her waist, holding her at arm's length and looking her up and down. “There are no words. You surpassed my wildest expectations. Do you think we have time to…”

“Nope. Jaya and Soren are waiting outside.”

“They won't mind.”

She couldn't help grinning. “I mind. Don't be greedy, Davin. We can play later. Besides, if you mess up my hair, I'll never get it right again.” She turned and walked towards the door, giving him a good look at her bottom in the curve-hugging trousers.

When Davin spoke, his mouth sounded dry. “Oh, baby, you had better believe we will play later.” He ran his hand possessively over her backside, squeezing one lovely mound, before settling his arm around her waist.

* * *

The festival was already in full swing by the time they arrived on the city green. Discordant music from a dozen different performers of varying degrees of talent clashed with the yells of food hawkers from what must have been hundreds of stands. It seemed every third stall was a wine merchant handing out samples of his wares. A fortune in wine would be sold in this one evening to restaurants and individuals, enough to last the rest of the year. The smell of fermented grapes, apples, and even honey spiced the air, and Kiri's mouth watered. She dearly loved red wine, but Jaya insisted it was bad for the baby. She had told Davin too.
Damn
.

As they pressed through the lively and intoxicated crowd, the spirit of the evening began to penetrate the four friends. Each one chose a food stall and they walked through the throng happily munching. Jaya was chewing on a brilliant red apple, one of the first of the year. Davin and Soren had chosen huge meat pies, and Kiri was nibbling on a roast leg of chicken, getting her hands and face all greasy. She laughed at Davin wiped her chin with a napkin, and then leaned forward to steal a quick hot kiss.

Kiri squeaked in half-feigned protest as his tongue swept her mouth, but she soon realized no one cared. In fact, half the people on the street seemed to be kissing, and several were disappearing into alleyways for more intimate action.

“Well,” Soren boomed over the noise of the crowd, “I'm going to get some wine. Jaya?” She took his hand and they headed for a stand on the far side of the clearing.

* * *

Kiri pouted, making Davin laugh. He was happy to see her carrying herself differently this evening. There was nothing like feeling beautiful to make a woman more confident. Tonight she moved like a princess. No downcast eyes, no subservient expression. Kiri took on the world as though she had the perfect right to be there, and if people stopped to take a second look at her face, well so what. In fact, something else seemed to be different about her. Davin examined her more carefully, and drew back in shock.

“Where are your scars, baby?” he asked.

“They're still there.” She gestured toward her cheek.

“Not all of them.” He touched her smooth, seamless lips, astonished.

“No, I had Jaya work on them this afternoon. I hated the way they felt, pulling at me when I talked or smiled. I can move my face freely now.” She smiled broadly, proving her freedom of movement.

He hoped that was the real reason. “You know I never minded them, right?”

“I know. I minded them. They were pretty uncomfortable, but this is much better.”

Well, done was done, and it was her face.
I don't want her face to hurt
. “What kind of wine do you like best?” he asked, changing the subject.

“Red, but Jaya says I can't have any.” She stuck her lip out in a fake pout.

How adorable.
“I have an idea.”

* * *

Davin took Kiri's hand and led her off to one side, where a small table contained cups of deep blood-red wine. He paid for a cup and took a swig, swallowed, and kissed Kiri deeply. She could taste the delicious vintage on his lips and tongue.

“Clever man,” she murmured against his mouth.

“Well, well, well, Davin Colorian. Still a lady-killer I see?” A seductive voice came from behind Kiri. She turned to face a woman of striking beauty; red haired, slim, and sexy.

“Jakiera,” Davin said coolly.

“How have you been, lover? It's been way too long.” She trailed long, scarlet-tipped fingers down his arm.

“Not long enough,” he snarled.

“Ouch. Don't be mean, Davin.” The woman seemed to notice Kiri at last, still standing against Davin's side, his arm around her waist. “And who is this sweet little thing? Another one night stand?” She took in Kiri's scars and her eyes widened.

Davin's arm tightened around Kiri's waist. “No, not at all. This is Kiri Taconowa, my betrothed.” The redhead's eyes widened.

“Betrothed? You? I would never have believed it. When did this happen?”

“About a month ago,” he replied.

“And with the same woman for a month. I think the sun will fall out of the sky next.”

Kiri glanced at Davin's face. He looked sour. “Actually, I stopped living that way five years ago. About the time you left my bed to go to your wedding.”

Kiri went rigid in his embrace.

“What a night that was. Well, the dear old husband is calling, so I won't stay and chat.” She kissed him on the cheek and sauntered away.

“Davin, what?” Kiri breathed, unable to believe what she'd just heard.

Davin shook his head. “I was stupid then. I made a lot of really bad decisions. It doesn't matter anymore.”

“How can it not? Did you really sleep with her the night before her wedding?” he looked away. “Why? How could you do that?”

“It was a mistake.” His jaw was tight.

“If that's all the respect you have for marriage, how can I even consider marrying you? How can I wear this?” She reached for the clasp of her collar.

Davin covered her hand with his, and lowered it away from her neck. “Please, don't do this, baby.”

“Don't do what? This is almost as bad as thinking you were married.” Although their voices were pitched low, people were starting to look at them.

At that moment, Jaya and Soren returned with their cups of wine. Jaya had her face in hers and wasn't paying attention, but Soren's sharp blue eyes immediately noticed a problem. “What happened?”

“One of my old partners came over and said some really crass things,” Davin explained. “Kiri's upset. Listen, I need to talk to her in private. Cover for us, would you?” He took Kiri's hand in his and led her away towards a dark alley. Miraculously, there were no couples necking in the corners. Kiri yanked her arm out of Davin's grasp and leaned against the wall.

“That was a long time ago, baby,” he wheedled. “Please don't be jealous. It meant nothing. You know I didn't lead the purest lifestyle when I was young.”

“I didn't like that,” Kiri said in a small voice, “Looking at that beautiful, slutty woman and knowing she'd had you. I can't compete. And there were others, too, weren't there? Beautiful women who loved you …”

“No, Kiri, there weren't,” Davin said fiercely. “They didn't love me. Only you love me, Kiri. Only you. And you don't have to compete with them. You're here now. You're the one I've chosen, not Jakiera, not Kaeli, none of them. Only Kiri.” He stepped right up to her and kissed her hard, grinding his mouth against hers, holding her until her ribs ached. She started to respond to his kiss, almost unconsciously, and then shook her head and wrestled herself away from Davin.

“Stop trying to make love, Davin, it won't help. You could do this with anyone. You could walk away from me right now and find a beautiful girl and take her home…” Kiri's voice broke. She buried her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking with silent sobs.

Davin put his arms around her again, more gently this time. “Don't cry, Kiri,” he said softly against her ear. “If I could change the past I would, but it can't be done. Doesn't it matter that I'm here now, with you?”

If only that provided comfort.
“It's your fate to be with me, Davin. The oracle said. You're here because it's your destiny.”

“You're wrong, baby. I'm here because it's my choice. Those other women, none of them fought by my side. None of them gave me their virginity. That's right, Kiri, none. None of them would have died for me. Not one offered to carry my child. You did all those things for me. All those girls wanted from me was sex. None of them wanted what I gave to you; my heart. I would chose you if all the beautiful women in the world lined up in front of me. You are my love.”

Kiri looked up, her eyes swimming, her nose threatening to drip. “Really?”

“Really. I love you, Kiri.”

She pressed her face against his shoulder and cried some more. He stroked her back while the storm of emotion ran its course. At last, she took a deep breath and raised her head. “Damn pregnancy hormones,” she muttered, making him smile.

“Nice try, Kiri, but that wasn't hormones, was it?”

“No. I really hated that, and it could happen again, couldn't it? This city is full of women who know you intimately.” She shook her head. “It's unbearable. Couldn't we just…leave? Live somewhere else? There must be other towns that need law enforcement officers.”

“Do you mean that?” he asked, and something about his tone told her that her suggestion meant more to him than she'd suggested.

“Yes. The only things I care about here are you and Jaya. Well, Soren is kind of growing on me, but this city? I don't care about it. It's noisy and crowded and dirty. I wouldn't mind living somewhere green again, where I can smell the trees and the grass and feel the sun on my face.”

“Funny you should say that,” he replied. “One of my former deputies came to see me today while you were with Jaya. He said his cousin had been working in law enforcement in a remote district in the country, a small farming community. He just left his position to come work in the capital, so they need someone out there. It's very far from here, and the hiring agent they sent has not had any luck finding a candidate. I didn't agree to meet him, because I didn't know how you felt about leaving. This is the only part of Koral you know, and I didn't want to take you away from it. But if you want, we could meet with this man. If we are all in agreement, maybe we could get away from here, get a fresh start somewhere where my past is not known, where we can live respectable lives and be members of a community.”

“Let's meet him now,” Kiri urged, as visions of wide open fields and groves of trees danced in front of her eyes.

“Not yet, baby. I need something first.” He kissed her lips sweetly. “Promise me you won't take off my collar again, Kiri. It's right where it belongs, on the neck of the only woman I have ever loved.”

“I promise,” she said sweetly, “I'm sorry I overreacted.”

“You didn't.” He stroked her hair. “I used to be a very bad boy. There is no excuse. But that time is passed. I promise to be a proper lover to you now, and a proper husband in the future.”

Kiri nodded, and with one more aching kiss, they left the alley. First, they collected Jaya and Soren, who were still sipping wine where they had left them. They were not the same cups as before, Kiri noticed, thinking they would both have headaches the next day. They looked at her tear-ravaged face and said nothing, but Jaya offered a handkerchief and Davin went in search of a cup of cool water. Kiri bathed her eyes, hoping that in the dark, the stains would be less obvious.

“Have you seen Dane?” Davin asked Soren.

“Yes, I think he's over by the meat pies.” Soren replied. “He did come looking for you a moment ago, said he had someone you needed to meet.”

“Perfect.”

“Be back in time for the dancing, Davin,” Jaya called after them, “I want to dance with my big brother.”

“It's a promise,” he called back.

Davin had no trouble finding his friend and former second-in-command. He was, in fact, next to the meat pies, eating one, and holding another in his free hand. The man was a bottomless pit, and never gained an ounce. He was also tall and ungainly with a shock of red hair, freckles, and the most beautiful wife anyone had ever seen.

“Dane,” Davin called, “there you are. Eating again I see?”

“Like I ever stop,” Dane laughed. “I'm glad you found me. That representative is here, and he's leaving tomorrow. He hasn't found anyone.” He turned and cupped one hand around his mouth. “Ven! Hey, Ven, come here. There's some people you need to meet.”